Appendix C- Species Found at Stop 7

You can spot the following species of oak along this portion of the trail. Click Here to learn the basics of tree identification.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra): Northern red oaks have smooth dark grey bark when young, but become ridged with age. Their leaves are lobed with sharp points at the tips. Northern red oak is an important hardwood lumber species and is also frequently used in habitat restoration efforts for its ability to withstand polluted conditions.

Burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa): These oaks have corky, light gray bark that peels in vertical strips and leaves with rounded lobes (no pointed tips) that are deeper on the bottom half of the leaf. Burr oaks have the largest acorns of any northeastern oak species and are an important food source for wildlife. This distinction is reflected in its scientific name: Quercus (“oak”) macrocarpa (“big-fruited”).

White oak (Quercus alba): These are very similar to burr oak, but their leaves are more deeply lobed over the full length of the leaf. A laterally-spreading tree, it is not unusual for large, mature white oaks to have a crown as wide as the tree is tall